COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1868, 26 June 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Waikah Timii Office, Wednesday. NEW ZEALAND MAKKEfS. The N.Z.L. and M.A. Company report under dhte, Christchurch, Juno 19th:— Wool. — The May-Juno series of Colonial Wool Sales closed in London on June 12 under somewhat favourable conditions. « From our private advices we learn that— f " The sales closed firmly. Inferior soured »■ and washed are easier, scoured having declined Id on the closing rates of last sales. Cross-bred, on the othor hand, has advanced £d to Id per lb ; whilst lambs also show improvement in value. Of 324,000 bales i. Bold, 180,000 have been taken for export, [ and 38,000 bales have been held over for i future disposal." Theso reported variations in v&lue are fully confirmed by the sales advised of some well-known brands. And * in regard to well-giown, fine cross-breds, |p we believe the advance is even more than [ Id per lb. The next sales commence on I August 12. p Sheepskins.— Dunedin : The efforts of fellmongers to induce butchers to .sell at " auction in 3 toad of privately have met witli success ; competition was keen, and higher priceß were obtained. This had the efFect of bringing forward largo catalogues of green skins, and prices again receded. At the last sale, however, a reaction set in, and full rates weie obtained. Butchers' green nross-breds brought 2s 8d to 3s Gd, and merinos 2s Gd to 3s 3d. Tallow and Fat.— A further decline on the month in the value of mutton tallow is announced from Home. This has not, "however, materially affected the domestic trade, as there is a good demand from local boilers for all brought forward at last month's reduced rates. Hides —Dunedin : A continued steady market exists. Our local tanners give prices equal to any obtained outside the colony, so that neaily all coming forward are manufactured here ; pi ices range from 24d to 4W according to weight and quality, heavy weights being most in demand. Gkai.w— Dunedin.— Wheat : The dullness reported last month continues, more business could have been done, but sellers cannot be brought to iealiso the real position of the market, and although they see prices receding week by week, it is with the greatest difficulty that any sales are made ; buyers, on the other hand, finding no margin for expoit, keep aloof. Milleis buy as sparingly as possible.. Piime milling, sujh as \elvet and tuscan, aie worth from 3s 3d to 3b -Id ; good, at 3s to 3s 2d, ex ; medium and fowl's wheat command Hfeut~ little attention. Christchurch.— P^ynotlier month, f«i\ ourable as legards the > /enther for bringing grain to maiket, and ff etting in the new crop, has been enjoyed [ by farmers; but we legret having to I report no alleviation fiom the desponding tone so long prevailing in the wheat market. From the agricultural statistics of Canterbury, recently issued by the Government, we find that the area in wheat was 7579 acres less than m 1883, and a decreased production of 1,170,014 bushels. In oats, there was a deciease in aie.i and quantity of 29,283 acres, and 714,784 bushels, respectively. Bailey shows an increase of 17.")!) acres, and 5'J,(520 bushels. Owing to the serious losses sustained by farmers during the past .season, the area going into crop this winter is considerably curtailed, and, we ii>giet to add that, through lack of funds, many paddocks which should be laid down to grass in the comiijg rpritig, will h.ue to lie doimant until the fruits of anothei harvest bring the wherewithal for Una purpose.— Wheat : Under the depressing influences of unprecedentedly low lates lulmgin London, and the total absence of ordeis fiom Home, prices became weaker after our last lepoit was ibsucd. Faimeis had eithei to accjpt the low price of 3/- to 3/3 for their giam, or to ship on then own account. The bulk of growers have piefei led the latter course, and most of the .shipments recently made have been on their account. Foitunately for them, sailing freights have fallen from 37/G ta 31/0, and we hear th.it even lower rates aie not impiobible Sales have been unimportant, though not not confined to prime samples, since a limited demand for Australian account has enabled severa-1 lines of second quality wheat to be moved off. For pi in le milling, we quote 3/1 to 3/4 ; damp and slightly spiontod, 2'b to 2/<S; mouldy .and seconds, 1/0 to 2/3, all f.o.b. A large quantity of damp wheat is being rendered fit foi shipment by the piuce^s of kiln drying. Auckian'l). — Wheat : A considerable quantity lemams in produceis' honds, and is held in anticipation of bettei iate-<. Miller* aie not disposed to puichase e\t«n sively, the market consequently continues very quiet. — O.\r.>. — Lai go shipments have come to hand fiom Southern piats, but r pi ices remain film. We 1 >ok for a slight f ndvanoo shoi tly. Rates now lubng aie 2s 1 (5d for milling and 2s 3d to 2-. ."id for good feed samples. GkassSi:i;i>h.— Chustfhuich.— ltvegiass Dining the pa-,t few d.iys a slight enquiry has been noticeable, but tian&actions have been meagre in chaiacter. The demand will shortly assume impottant dimensions, when values \\ ill be moie defined. Meantime we quote pi une, 3s J)d to 4s ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s (id ; infeiioi, 2s (id to 2s lud.--Cockbfoot : The demand for English account has .sensibly slackened, but as fnt-t-class seed is in limited supply, 3£d to 4d is readily obtainable for such. Indifferently diessed and discolomed are off ei ing freely at 2W to 3UI —Auckland.— Last month's quotations ha\e nndeigonc no alteration, andweiepeat 4s to 4s 3d pei busiiel for ryegras-s, and for a clean sample of cocksfoot, 4d per lb. Frozen Mbvt.— Dunedin.— The s.s. Victory cleat ed out since date of last repoit with 5i30 carcases mutton ; and now the works at Burnsitle aie busy preparing a caigo for the s.s. British Queen, when about 1)000 cai cases will be despatched.— Christchuich. — Undeteried by lecent unfavourable cable ad\ ieee fiom Home legarding the value of New Zealand mutton, shippers are employing the Belfast woiks to their fullest capacity, piepaiing for further consignments by the Done and Coptic, now bhoitly due. Since last lepoit the Aorangi and Invercargill have cleared from Lyttelton with 7,0j!) and 11,478 carcases respectively. These swell the shipments fiom this pott since commencement of the year to 77,321 carcases. — Wellington. — By the s.«. "Victory, which sailed from this poit on !)th inst. for London direct, there were shipped 3150 caicases, 338 legs, and 200 shoulders mutton, and 117 pieces beef. — Napier. — TheNorthumbeiland sailed hence on the sth inst., taking 11,000 carcases mutton. The s.s. Bombay is expected here shortly to commence loading. Miscellaneous : — Christchurch. — Butter. — The reaction in the Sydney market, reported in our last issue, has been responded to locally by a decline in rates, which now rule at 10d for mild, in Australian tubs, and 8d to 9d for ordinary, packed in kegs : — Cheese. — There is no alteration in values on the month, though the market is decidedly firm at our quotations. The fact of 70s having being realised in London by our Head Office for a shipment of Akaroa make, has contributed largely to the confidence now ruling the market. Auckland. — Butter.— The large exports to Sydney and Bn*>bane have left this market in short supply, consequently the rate ruling last month, viz., 8d f.0.b., is well maintained. — Cheese. — The maiket is now fully supplied by the local factories, of which there are four or five, and we hear of others, in comse of election. The result of shipments to the Home maiket is awaited with interest, and on this will depend the future of this industry. Prices l ule from 5d to Cd per lb. — Potatoes. — Better rates are ruling than quoted in last repoit. Good samples lealise 70s bags included, tha market, however, is in full supply.